For centuries blue and gold have been married together in art. It is difficult to ascertain why artists choose certain colours for their compositions, we can only infer their reasons. Examples of these two colours being used together can be traced back to the Byzantine period, which spanned several centuries between c.330-1453. Artworks in this...
Continue readingIn the mid sixteenth century the Eighty Years War took place, which had a big impact on art making and buying. When the citizens of the Netherlands revolted against Spanish rule under King Philip of Spain, taking back their independence, the result was the dissolution of the powerful Royal court. Protestantism became the dominant religion,...
Continue readingMaria Sibylla Merian was born in 1647 in Frankfurt, Germany. Her father Matthäus Merian (the Elder) was a well known engraver and publisher, who ran a flourishing publishing shop in Frankfurt. He died when Maria was three, but the shop continued to be run by other family members. There was a great deal of work going...
Continue readingThis year marks the 500th anniversary of Jacopo Tintoretto’s birth, an artist who is one of Venice’s most prolific painters. Save Venice has funded the restoration of many paintings by the cherished Tintoretto, who has more than seven hundred paintings all over the city. This is an American and Venetian non-profit organisation, which over the decades been...
Continue readingMusic permeated life in seventeenth century Delft, as well as in other European countries. It was common practice for music to be performed, by women especially, but also by men, as a way of entertaining guests and others in the room. Music could be heard inside homes, outside by street performers and at special events...
Continue readingSince before the launch of the Blue & White Company, back in November 2017, we were keen to find a way to support emerging artists and creative conversations in a local capacity. As a small group of artists and makers ourselves, we appreciate how positive it can be to keep doors open to learning and...
Continue readingDenim is one of the most widely used fabrics in the world and denim jeans are the most popular indigo-dyed garment produced today – they have been for decades. Indigo dye is the dyestuff in denim that creates its distinctive deep blue colour. The word indigo originally comes from the Greek word ‘indikón’, later ‘indicum’...
Continue readingToday, the Blue & White Company is featured in the wonderful YCB Magazine in their Lifestyle and Woman & Home section. It was huge fun working with the great team at YCB and we were very happy to share our love of blue and white, as always! The products selected by the Editor in...
Continue reading“Looking at Atkins’ book today, what is most striking is not the outlines of the algae, however beautifully and delicately they crawl across the pages; it is the glorious depth of the Prussian blue backdrop to the images.’ Photography has always been on the cusp between science and art. Someone like Anna Atkins has...
Continue readingWe spend time travelling around Oxfordshire and nearby counties taking our pop up shop to events. Yesterday, the Blue & White Company joined the annual Heritage Day at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst in Surrey. On this day each year, the academy opens its gates to the public and military families to enjoy air and...
Continue reading